Paint container assembly



May 16, 1961 S. E. EDELSTQNE ETA].

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'Erg 4 sl'gmuno E. fde/sfane A/berf E. Nee/y;

PAINT CONTAINER ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 715,640

4 Claims. c1. 15-510 Q'lfhe present inventionrelates broadly to tubularpaint containers provided with an applicator cap'assembly, and is moreparticularly concerned with a new and improved container of theforegoing type wherein the applicator cap assembly is associated with acontainer plug portion providing wiping surfaces for the applicator.

Bottle assemblies receiving therein enamels, lacquers, and the like, andfurnished with an applicator generally in the form of a brush, have longbeen available to the art for purposes such as nail coating, touch-up ofhousehold and automobile finishes, and similar uses. A problem longexisting and heretofore not solved by earlier bottle assemblies of thetype described hasbeen the pre: vention of leakage of the excess liquidinto the threads or other joint between the cap and container body, aswell as general leakage from said body into the cap assembly supportingthe brush or other applicator. Various applicator wiper arrangements andcap assembly seal constructions have been proposed; however, none havebeen completely eifective in overcoming the problems noted.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention there isprovided a tubular container receiving at its open end a plug memberprovided with a central opening normally surrounding a brush or otherapplicator carried by a cap assembly. A major portion of the length ofthe plug member may be received in the open end of the container, andsaid plug is preferably externally threaded on its exposed end to engagecorresponding threads on the cap inner diameter. In a preferredarrangement, the central opening in the plug member is of downwardlyconvergent configuration to form an effective liquid seal with a taperedprotuberance carrying the brush shank on the cap assembly. As analternative, however, the plug member bore may be provided with ribs andgrooves between which the brush may be drawn to remove excess liquidtherefrom. The cap assembly may be hollow throughout a major portion ofits length to receive a rubbing compound or other material, and may beclosed by a snap cap carrying a spatula or other applicator means.Within the liquid container body may be locateda shaker member ofparticular shape to accomplish a thorough mixing of the liquid.

It is therefore an important aim of the present invention to provide aliquid container characterized in part by ease of filling and liquidremoval. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel paint containerand dispenser wherein the applicator cap assembly is received upon acontainer plug member having an applicator wiping surface thereon.

Another object of this invention lies in the provision of a paintcontainer in which the cap assembly may include a closed chamber housingcompounds to facilitate the painting operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tubular paintcontainer receiving at its open end a plug member provided with acentral opening tapered along a portion of its length and presenting awiping surface I 2,983,946 Patented May 16, 1961 ice against whichexcess liquid from the applicator may be removed.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a paintreceptacle having an applicator member carried by the cap portionthereof, the receptacle receiving at its open end a plug member having atapered bore providing a seating surface for the cap portion andeffectively sealing the open end of the receptacle to prevent leakage ofliquid therefrom.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a liquidcontainer having an insert in the open end thereof shaped internallywith a stepped bore providing a wiping surface against which theapplicator member of the container cap may be stroked to removeexcessive liquid therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a liquidcontainer of the foregoing character wherein a portion of the steppedbore of the insert carries raised portions between which the applicatormember may be drawn to squeeze excess liquid therefrom.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide acontainer assembly for paints and the like in which an agitator memberis carried within the paint reservoir to accomplish thorough mixing ofthe liquid therein without interference with the applicator memberextending into the paint reservoir.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description, particularly when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the liquid container of thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a preferred form thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the container plug member ofFigure 2, showing the action of the wiping surfaces thereon in removingexcess liquid from the applicator member;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of plug member;and

Figure 5 is a plan view of the plug member of Fig. 4, and showing indetail the rib and groove wiping surfaces therein.

Referring now to the drawings, the liquid container A of this inventioncomprises essentially an open-ended tubular casing or housing 10 and anopen-ended cap or closure assembly 11 upon which is received a cap 12.The casing 10 may be formed of aluminum or like materials, whileplastics of the polyethylene or Bakelite type may be employed to moldthe cap and cap assembly. If desired, the cap assembly may be fluted onits exterior as shown.

The casing 10 is of substantially uniform cross-section throughout itslength, and removably received in the open end of said casing in closefitting contact with the inner walls thereof is an insert or plug member13. The plug member may be molded or otherwise formed of Bakelite orlike materials, and comprises throughout a major portion of its length askirt portion 14 received within the open end of the casing 10, and aneck portion 15 which may be externally threaded to receive thereon thecap assembly 11. As a substitute for threadable engagement between theplug member 13 and cap assembly 11, a press fit could of course beemployed. When received upon the plug member 13, the cap assembly 11substantially abuts the upper end of the casing.

The neck portion 15 of the plug member 13 is provided interiorly with atapered or downwardly convergent bore 16 communicating at its relativelymore narrow portion with a substantially cylindrical bore 17 within theskirt portion 14 of said plug member 13. At the point of junction of thebores 16 and 17 as shown in Fig. 3, there is presented a relativelysharp wiping edge '18 against which bristles 19 of a brush or otherapplicat or 20 may be stroked to remove excess paint or other liquidfrom said bristles. Theshape of the bores or passages 16 and 17 are suchthat any excess liquid may be effectively removed by wiping the brushagainst the edge 18; however, any further amounts of excess liquid couldof course be'removed by stroking the bristles 19 against the walls ofthe bore 16. Excess liquid will drain downwardly into the container, andsticking of the cap assembly and plug member is thus renderedsubstantially remote.

The cap assembly 11 is preferably threadably received upon the neckportion 15 of the plug member or insert 13, and for this purpose isprovided with a skirt portion 21 carrying threads on its inner diameterengageable with the threads on the neck portion 15 of said plug member.When the container A is assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the capskirt portion exterior and easing circumference form a smooth continuoussurface.

At one end of the cap assembly 11 and substantially centrally thereof isa hollow tapered stem 22 which appears of general funnel shape incross-section as shown in Fig. 2. Preferably, the tapered stem 22 is ofgreater length than the skirt portion 21, and extends slightly into thecylindrical bore 17 of the plug member 13. The outer diameter of thetapered stem 22 corresponds closely with the diameter of the taperedbore 16 of the neck portion 15 of the plug member 13, to provide a sealbetween the cap assembly 11 and plug member 13, and thereby preventsliquid within the casing from leaking outwardly, as for example duringshipment of the container A. Accordingly, when the cap assembly 11 isthreaded upon the plug member 13 received in the casing 10, there is ineffect provided a double seal to prevent leakage. By close fittingcontact between the tapered stem 22 of the cap assembly 11 and thetapered bore 16 of the plug member 13, passage of fluid from within thecasing is prevented, and additionally, the threaded connection betweenthe cap assembly 11 and plug member 13 of the casing 10 further insuresa leakproof construction.

In addition to providing an effective seal, the tapered stem 22 of thecap assembly 11 functions to support the brush bristles 19 in adepending position within liquid contained in the casing 10. One mannerof mounting the brush 20 is shown in Fig. 2, and this may beaccomplished by provision of a brush shank 23 having a diameter not lessthan the opening in the tapered stem 22 to insure a tight fit betweensaid shank and the inner walls of the tapered stem 22 at the endthereof. To assure that the brush 20 will not move outwardly from thecap assembly 11 during use, a head or flange 24 may be formed on thebrush shank 23 bearing against said inner walls of the tapered stem 22.After location in the manner shown, the brush 20 is substantiallyimmovable with respect to the cap assembly 11, and accordingly, there islittle likelihood of leakage of fluid between the brush shank 23 andtapered stem inner walls.

Closing the opposite end of the cap assembly 11 is a cap 12, which maybe either threadedly associated with the cap assembly 11 or held thereinby a snap fit in the manner shown. The closure or cap assembly 11 ispreferably hollow to provide therein a chamber 25 within which may bestored a rubbing compound or other material used to prepare the surfaceto be painted or otherwise coated prior to application of the enamel,lacquer, or other paint located in the casing 10. To facilitate theapplication of the rubbing compound or other material, the cap 12 maycarry an applicator 26 of suitable construction, which may be in theform of a spatula as shown. When the container A is assembled and placedin the upright position shown in Fig. 2, both applicators 20 and 26depend downwardly in generally parallel rela- 4 tion to the walls of thecap assembly 11 and casing 10, respectively.

The container A herein described is particularly well suited for use inthe application of touch-up paints to automobile and household finishes,and during storage such materials have a tendency toward pigment andvehicle separation. To permit agitation of the contents of the casing orhousing 10, and adequate mixing thereof a shaker member or agitator 27may be provided which preferably is in the form of a spring as shown.The agitator 27 has an outer diameter slightly less than the innerdiameter of the casing 10 to permit relatively free movement therein,and yet is sized to prevent tumbling within the casing. During shakingof the container A, the agitator 27 moves forwardly and backwardly insurrounding relation to the applicator 20 and is limited in its movementby the bottom walls of the casing 10 and plug member 13 receivedtherein. It may be noted that the inner diameter of the skirt portion 14of said plug member 13 is also slightly less than the outer diameter ofthe agitator to provide greater travel for said agitator during shakingmovement of the container A to thereby accomplish a more thoroughagitation of the fluid therein. While a spring is preferred as theagitator member 27 by reason of presenting a greater surface to theliquid during the shaking thereof, other means may of course be employedin the form of relatively thick washers and the like.

A modified form of plug member or insert 28 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5,and upon reference thereto it may be seen that the plug member 28 isshaped to include a neck portion 29 integral with a skirt portion 30.The neck portion is provided with a tapered bore 31 communicating with asubstantially cylindrical bore 32 opening into the interior of thecasing 10. The inner walls of the neck portion 29 have ribs or raisedportions 33 of general wedge shape in cross-section, and said ribs arepreferably spaced around the circumference of the tapered bore 31 insubstantially the manner shown in Fig. 5. Between said ribs there aregrooves or notches 34 having generally straight end and side walls inplan, and said grooves 34 and the faces against which the bristles 19 ofthe brush 20 may be drawn to remove excess liquid therefrom. The wipingsurfaces provided by the arrangement of ribs and grooves shown in Figs.4 and S perform a squeezing action upon the brush bristles 19 andeffectively remove the excess material on said bristles after dipping inthe liquid stored in the container A. This may be found to be apreferable arrangement in certain instances, and it will be appreciatedthat when employing a plug member 28 of the configuration disclosed, thecap assembly will not normally include a tapered stem 22 as in Fig. 2,and the brush or other applicator 20 of Figs. 4 and 5 will be receivedand held in position generally upwardly of the skirt portion shown inFig. 2. However, by use of a press fit between the cap assembly 11 andplug member 28, a tapered stem on the cap assembly could be used in thearrangement of Figs. 4 and 5 by the provision on the tapered stem ofribs and notches engageable between similar means 33 and 34 on the plugmember tapered bore 31. In this manner effective sealing between the capassembly and plug member 28 of the casing 10 is provided.

It may be seen from the foregoing that there is provided herein a novelcontainer for paints and similar materials which is essentiallyleak-proof. The arrangement of the plug member 13 and the bores 16 and17 therein, as well as the brush receiving tapered stem of the capassambly '11, permit the ready withdrawal of fluid from within thecasing 10 without the deposit of excess liquid upon the plug member andinterference with the threadable association between said plugmemadjacent ribs 33 provide wiping surher and the skirt portion 21 ofthe cap assembly 11. Excess liquid is effectively stroked from thebristles 19 of the brush 20 by contact witlrthe relatively sharp" wipingedge 18 of the construction shown in Figs. '1 to 3, or between the ribs33 and the grooves 34 of the plug member 28 appearing in Figs. 4 and 5.Excess liquid received by the wiping surfaces readily flows backwardlyinto the casing 10, and a glued joint between the cap assembly and plugmembers 13 and '18 is thus substantially remote. Further, by provisionof an agitator of the general construction shown, the liquid within thecasing 12 is maintained in a thoroughly mixed condition, and a maximumpath of travel for said agitator is provided. And as a further feature,the cap assambly 11 is substantially hollow to permit the storagetherein of rubbing or other materials useful in connection with thepainting operation. The container A is of lightweight construction, andis formed of a minimum number of relatively inexpensive parts which maybe readily assembled and disassembled.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same, and thatvarious changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may beeffected without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the subjoined claims.

We claim as our invention:

l. A container and cap assembly adapted to dispense on separateapplicators materials from separate storage chambers into which theapplicators project which comprises a cylindrical tube with a flatclosed bottom and an open top, a molded plastic plug having acylindrical skirt securely fitted in the open top end of the tube alongthe entire skirt length and an externally threaded reduced diameter neckprojecting beyond the top of the tube, said neck having a tapered boretherethrough converging from the top thereof, said skirt having acylindrical bore therethrough of larger diameter than the tapered boreand terminating in a shoulder providing a sharp wiping edge surroundingthe convergent end of the tapered bore, a molded plastic cap having aninternally threaded skirt on one end thereof receiving said neck of theplug in threaded relation, a tapered stem on said cap centrally disposedin said cap skirt and mating with the tapered bore of said plug in wedgesealed relation when the cap is screw tightened on the neck, said caphaving a hollow chamber beyond the cap skirt portion thereof, a capcover for closing said cap chamber, a first applicator carried by thestem of the cap to project therefrom substantially into the tube, asecond applicator carried by the cap cover to project substantially intothe cap chamber, said first applicator being centrally suspended in thetube when the cap is screwed on the plug and adapted to be wiped againstsaid sharp edge when the cap is unscrewed from the plug,'said cap andplug screw threads cooperating with the mated stem and tapered boresurfaces to form a double seal, said flat bottom of the tube and saidshoulder of the skirt forming the ends of a continuous cylindricalchamber in the tube and skirt bore free from pockets, and a hollowagitator freely disposed in said continuous chamber adapted to freely"surround said first applicator and act on every portion of the chamberfor stirring the contents thereof.

2. A container for paints and the like comprising a fiat bottom open topcylindrical tube, a plug having a cylindrical skirt securely fitted inthe open top of said tube, said skirt having a cylindrical boreterminating in a fiat end wall opposite the flat bottom of said tube, areduced diameter neck on said plug projecting from said skirt above thetop of said tube, said neck having a tapered bore therethroughconverging to a sharp wiping edge at said end wall of the skirt bore, acap having an internally threaded skirt adapted to be screwed onto thethreaded neck of said plug, a tapered stern on said cap centrallydisposed within the cap skirt to mate with the tapered bore of the plugin sealed engagement therewith when the cap is screwed onto the plug, abrush applicator having a shank secured in said stem of the cap andprojecting therefrom for a substantial distance, brush bristles on theend of said shank, said applicator being disposed centrally within saidtube when said cap is secured on said plug and said sharp wiping edgeadapted to engage the brush bristles to remove excess material therefromwhen the cap is removed from the plug, and a hollow agitator in saidtube freely surrounding said applicator and adapted to reach allportions of the continuous cylindrical chamber formed in said tubebetween the flat bottom and the flat end wall of the skirt bore.

3. A tubular dispenser for paints and the like which comprises a tubewith a closed bottom and an open top, a plug secured in said open top ofthe tube having an end wall in spaced opposed relation to the closedbottom of the tube and cooperating therewith to form the ends of acontinuous cylindrical chamber in the tube, said plug having anexternally threaded neck projecting beyond the tube, said neck having atapered bore therethrough converging to a sharp wiping edge at said endwall of the plug, a closure cap having an internally threaded skirtembracing said neck of the plug in threaded engagement therewith, saidcap having a tapered stem projecting through said tapered bore of theplug beyond said wiping edge when the cap is screwed onto the neck, saidtapered stem mating with said tapered bore in sealing relation tocooperate with the cap skirt and plug neck threads to provide a doubleseal for the container, an elongated applicator secured to said capprojecting from the cap stem to be suspended axially in the centralportion of the tube when the cap is screwed onto the plug and to bewiped by said sharp edge when the cap is removed from the plug, and ahollow shaker member freely disposed in the tube adapted to be guided bythe tube wall in an upright position around the applicator when thedispenser is shaken to move forwardly and backwardly in the tube andagainst said tube bottom and said end wall of the plug for agitatingevery part of the contents of said continuous cylindrical chamberwhereby the entire contents of the chamber are adapted to be thoroughlymixed for dispensing a uniform product on the applicator.

4. A tubular dispenser for paints and the like fluid materials whichcomprises a cylindrical tube with a closed bottom and an open top, aplug having an elongated cylindrical skirt secured in the open top ofthe tube, said skirt having a cylindrical bore terminating in asubstantially fiat end wall in spaced opposed relation to the closedbottom of the tube, said plug having an externally threaded neckprojecting from the tube and a tapered bore extending through said neckconverging to a wiping edge at said end wall of the skirt bore, a caphaving an internally threaded skirt for threaded engagement with saidneck, said cap having an integral stem portion projecting through saidtapered bore of the plug neck when the skirt of the cap is threaded onthe plug neck, a brush shank anchored in said stem of the cap andprojecting axially from the convergent end of the stem to be suspendedcentrally in the tube when the cap is threaded onto the plug neck, andbrush bristles on the end of said shank adapted to be wiped by saidwiping edge when the cap is removed from the plug and the brush bristlesare directed against said wiping edge to drain excess material back intothe tube, a hollow agitator in the tube adapted to be guided by the tubewall and freely surround the brush shank and bristles for freereciprocating movement between the bottom of the tube and the flat endwall of the plug, and said tube and hollow skirt of the plug cooperatingto define a continuous cylindrical chamber between the end wall of theplug and the closed bottom of the tube which is free from recesses 7which will retain settled out ingredients of the fluid contents of theepntainer.

Reierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8Prager Feb. 24, 1953 Lee Feb. 28, 1956 Wittnebert Sept. 17, 1957 EvenNov. 19, 19 57 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1901

